Gene 1, one of the dna genes of bacteriophage phi 29, represses other dna genes through binding to mRNA.
The dna genes, essential for protein priming DNA replication of bacteriophage phi 29, are transcribed as a long polycistronic mRNA. In the previous study, gene 1 product (gp1) was shown to repress the expression of the upstream dna genes for DNA polymerase and primer protein. To investigate the details of the repression by gp1, we have examined the amount and integrity of polycistronic mRNA encoding DNA polymerase and primer protein by agarose gel electrophoresis and nuclease S1 protection assay. As a result, the amount, size, and integrity of the polycistronic mRNA were not influenced by the presence of gene 1. Furthermore, the RNA binding ability of gp1 was demonstrated by in vitro system using histidine-tagged gp1. These results strongly suggested that translation of the dna genes was affected by gp1 through binding to mRNA. Other possible mechanisms of gene regulation by gp1 were discussed.
Takeuchi
A
A
Life Science Institute, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
Makino
O
O
Hirokawa
H
H
D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000235:genetics*; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C079841:portal protein, bacteriophage P22; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase